While Floriade is Canberra's biggest and most well-known celebration of spring, there are many more celebrations held across the city and the surrounding region. From school and church fetes and fairs to festivals celebrating all things Scottish, all things Japanese, and all things kites, Canberra has plenty to keep you busy this spring.

Here's a taste of what's ahead.

September 1Kitefest returns to Googong! Celebrate the first day of spring and Father's Day at this uplifting festival held at Rockley Oval, Googong, from 11am-2pm. Come and see a flying giant whale shark, dragons, bunny rabbits, a stingray, astronauts and even a flying pig! And there'll also be yummy woodfired pizzas, beer, a sausage sizzle plus a DJ providing all the inflight entertainment.

The first-ever Canberra Zero Waste Festival takes place at the National Museum of Australia (Peninsula Room) from 11-3pm. Run by Zero Waste Revolution, there will be stalls, talks and workshops demonstrating practical ways for you and your family to live with zero-waste.

September 8Hosted by the Tharwa Preschool, the annual Tharwa Bush Fair is a much loved social event where visitors can see and buy local arts and crafts, enjoy local performances and market stalls and entertain the kids with sheep shearing, a jumping castle and more. Taking place at Tharwa Preschool, North Street, Tharwa from 10am-2pm.

September 13-15The Canberra Moon Festival returns to City Walk over three big days and nights! Celebrate spring with gourmet food stalls galore, a giant moon, street lanterns aglow, interactive games and activities, live music, dances and shows.

September 14St Philip church's Community Spring Fling will have plenty of stalls, yummy food (including a BBQ, curries, pancakes, coffee and bar and tapas), children's activities, live music and a fashion parade of preloved clothing. All welcome. Taking place at St Philip's Anglican Church, Corner Macpherson and Moorhouse Streets, O'Connor from 10am-2pm.

September 22The Southern Cross Club's Family Fun Day promises to be a day of family fun, food, awesome activities for the kids, live entertainment, free lake cruises and more. Taking place at the Southern Cross Yacht Club in Yarralumla from 11am-4pm.

September 29Spend the day in nature at the Tidbinbilla Open Day. The theme this year is 'Explore, Relax, Recharge' where you are encouraged to explore the Reserve with renewed curiosity and a focus on the many benefits that can be gained from spending a day immersed in nature and culture. It will be a fun-filled day of nature-based experiences, kid's activities, live music, displays, demonstrations and more - held in the greatest venue of all, the great outdoors. Taking place from 10am-3pm with free entry into Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Bring your family and friends for a day of exploring, relaxing and recharging!

Living Green Vegan Market is a fun day of stalls, music and delicious plant-based food and drink for everyone. It aims to raise awareness in the ACT community of the environmental challenges we face and how the choices we make in our everyday lives impact on the environment, on other humans and on animals. Taking place at Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, from 10am-3pm.

October 7
The Labour Day Festival and Union Picnic takes place on the Labour Day Public Holiday from 10am-2pm at Eddison Park, Phillip (near Woden Shopping Plaza). Bring your family and enjoy a day of free face painting, fairy floss, popcorn, giant bubbles, rides for the kids, sideshow alley, food, tug of war, sack races, dog show, petting zoo, music and more.

October 12
It's time to be Scottish again at the Canberra Highland Gathering. Taking place at the Kambah District Playing Fields, off Kett street in front of the Canberra Burns Club from 10am-5pm. Enjoy a day of bagpipe bands, highland dancing, a wide array of market stalls and food stalls (including traditional Scottish food), a dedicated children's area, and a series of Scottish heavy sporting events run by the Tartan Warriors.

October 19
Today the Spring Forage takes place at the Dairy Road Precinct, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick from 2pm-7pm. Celebrate the turn of the season with street food, beverages and entertainment at Canberra's biggest street party.

Today is also the beautiful Canberra Nara Festival when we celebrate the sister-city relationship between Canberra and Nara, Japan. Each October the festival brings together a wide variety of Japanese and Australian arts and crafts such as calligraphy, lantern making, origami and ikebana. And as the sun sets, a total of 2,000 candles bathe the park in soft candlelight. Taking place from 4pm – 9pm at Canberra Nara Peace Park in Lennox Gardens.

November 17
The Weetangera School Fete will have rides, food, face painting, white elephant and clothing stalls, farmers market and lots of fun activities for kids and parents alike. All proceeds from the Fete will go towards buying school books and upgrading the Audio Visual system for the school. Taking place at 71 Southwell Street, Weetangera from 10am-2pm.

November 23
The Holy Family Primary School Country Fair is on from 10-2pm at Holy Family Primary School, Cnr Castleton Crescent Gowrie. Parking at Fadden Pines and the Gowrie Oval.
There will be lots of fun stalls for the young and old at heart, including the ever-popular show rides and sideshow alley, pony rides, face painting, show bags, Soak the Teacher game, handmade gift stalls, cake and plant stalls, second hand books, toys and children's clothing, as well as a Chocolate Wheel, lots of delicious food, including Devonshire Tea, Greek cuisine and a good old BBQ, plus a great line up of local entertainers, along with community and sporting groups that are bound to keep you entertained for the day.